Combined radiator guard, bumper support and tow hook for trucks



H. P. MOSS 1,866,265

COMBINED RADIATOR GUARD, BUMPERSUPPORT, AND TOW HOOK FOR TRUCKS July 5,1932.

Filed Nov. 22. 1930 Patented July 5, 1932 PATENT oFFicE H. P. MOSS, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN OOMBINED RADIATOR GUARD, BUMPER SUPPORT AND TOW HOOKFOR TRUCKS Application filed November 22, 1930. Serial m. 497,384.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and has particular reference tothat character of device which is employed in connection with one end ofa vehicle to support the bumper, guard the radiator or other part of thevehicle and provide means for the attachment of a tow line for pullingthe car when the latter has been incapacitated.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pair ofsubstantially indentical resilient members which are adapted to beconnected to the extremities of the chassis or' frame at one end of avehicle and also to the back bar of a bumper and having means providingfor the attachment of a tow line, and

serving also to revent injury to the radiator or other part 0 the car.

I A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of thischaracter involving primarily two parts each substantially identicalwith the other, to act in an auxiliary capacity to the bumper.

Other and further important objects and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and theaccompanying drawing.

This invention (in. a preferred form) 1s illustrated in. the drawing andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the invention asapplied in conjunction with the radiator of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of the constructionappearing in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation showing a modified form ofconnection with a. bumper, the latter appearing in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein'the same partsare indicated in each'case by the same reference characters, the motorvehicle indicated generally 7 atA may be a truck and is provided withthe usual radiator B, chassis members or frame horns C- and bumper D,the latter in this instance being illustrated as being of the characterembodying spaced bars E and an intermediate back barF and having anintermediate clamp G although any other type of bumper may e used.

The salient embodiment of the invention comprises'a pair of brackets 1of substan tially identical construction, each in the general form ofthe'musical instrument known as a triangle, that is, with one apex openas indicated at 2. The base 3 of each triangular member is preferablysecured by suitable means 3a to the chassis members C and is providedintermediate its ends with a hump 4 extending upwardly therefrom andproviding an anchorage portion 5. Each loop 5 may receive an end of atow line, or, if desired, the tow line may be passed through both loops5. The forward end of each base portion 3 is free and is preferablyprovided with an upstanding lip 6 substantially parallel with the backbar F of the bumper, and disposed adjacent thereto. The free lower I end7 of the forward arm 8 of each triangular bracket 1 is substantiallyparallel to the lip 6, and disposed between these two portions is theback bar F, the latter being connected to the portions 6 and 7 by rivetsor the like 9. The triangular members 1 being made of spring metal suchas steel, it will be appreciated that the sides 8 and So will serve toabsorb shocks incident to collision very much in the manner of thebumper itself.

It will be noted that the members 1 may be made of strap metal involvingan extreme- 1y low cost of manufacture and such members aresubstantially complete in themselves, there being no moving parts torattle. Moreover, the members 1 may be attached in a few moments,whereas devices of this general character heretofore in use or suggestedhave been so complex and cumbersome as to re quire numerous operationsin the assembly of the same to the automobile. In addition, the membersembody anchorages which are conveniently located and are immediatelyaccessible for tow purposes.

Figure 3 shows a construction which may be morepractical than thatheretofore described, insofar as the securing of the back 10 comprisesthe impact arm 11 and the rear I arm 12 and the base 13. The base ishumped at 17 to provide an anchorage 18, which separates the free end 15from the opposite end 14 of the base, the latter being secured to theframe hornG by riveting 16 or the like. 'The frame horn G is preferablyprovided with a front extension 19 beyond the shackle eye 21 toconstitute a securing support to receive the bolts 20. These bolts passthrough the free depending portion 22 of the arm 11 and straddle theupper and lower edges of the.

back bar F.

With the construction just described, the impacts of the front bars ofthe bumper are transmitted directly to the chassis, which is as itshould be, thereby relieving the base 13 of consequent strain andreserving the latter and the securing means 16 to withstand stressesincident to impact of the arms 11 of the brackets 10 guarding theradiator B.

The advantages of the invention apply to the second form of theinvention just as well as to the first.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a Wide range without departin fromthe principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, a bracket comprising an opensubstantially triangular spring metal strap having a base provided withmeans for attachment thereof to a support, the attaching ortions beingseparated y an intermediate umped portion providing an anchorage forreceiving a tow line, the free ends of the triangular member extendingin spaced parallelism with each other and having means for attaching abumper bar therebetween, the remaining portions of the triangular memberconstituting resilient impact means.

2. In a device of the'class described, a vehicle including. a radiatorand frame horns, impact receiving brackets secured to said frame hornsin radiator guarding position, said .brackets'including ortionsextending in spaced relation to the orward ends of the horns, a bumperincluding a bar located between said means stradd ng said bar andsecuring said.

. portions and bar to said horns.

3. In a device of the class described a vehicle having frame horns, imact receiving guard means secured to sai horns, said means having loopportions to receive a tow line, a bumper, and instrumentalities securingsaid bumper to said means, whereby said means constitutes a support forsaid bumper, said means comprising a strap, said loop portions beingconnected to said horns in spaced relation to the bumper .and beingotherwise" unconnected to the bumper, wherebyj said 1,eee,ees

Michigan.

H. P. MOSS.

ortions and said horns, and Y and means for securing said

